the land of footprints-第60章
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ere incredibly numerous。 Some days they were fairly tame； and others exceedingly wild； without any rhyme or reason。 This shyness or the reverse seemed not to be individual to one herd； but to be practically universal。 On a 〃wild day〃 everything was wild from the Lone Tree to Long Juju。 It would be manifestly absurd to guess at the reason。 Possibly the cause might be atmospheric or electrical； possibly days of nervousness might follow nights of unusual activity by the lions； one could invent a dozen possibilities。 Perhaps the kongonis decided it。
At Juja we got to know the kongonis even better than we had before。 They are comical； quizzical beasts； with long…nosed humorous faces； a singularly awkward construction； a shambling gait； but with altruistic dispositions and an ability to get over the ground at an extraordinary speed。 Every move is a joke； their expression is always one of grieved but humorous astonishment。 They quirk their heads sidewise or down and stare at an intruder with the most comical air of skeptical wonder。 〃Well； look who's here！〃 says the expression。
〃Pooh！〃 says the kongoni himself； after a good look； 〃pooh！ pooh！〃 with the most insulting inflection。
He is very numerous and very alert。 One or more of a grazing herd are always perched as sentinels atop ant hills or similar small elevations。 On the sIightest intimation of danger they give the alarm； whereupon the herd makes off at once； gathering in all other miscellaneous game that may be in the vicinity。 They will go out of their way to do this； as every African hunter knows。 It immensely complicates matters； for the sportsman must not only stalk his quarry； but he must stalk each and every kongoni as well。 Once； in another part of the country； C。 and I saw a kongoni leave a band of its own species far down to our right； gallop toward us and across our front； pick up a herd of zebra we were trying to approach and make off with them to safety。 We cursed that kongoni； but we admired him； for he deliberately ran out of safety into danger for the purpose of warning those zebra。 So seriously do they take their job as policemen of the plains that it is very common for a lazy single animal of another species to graze in a herd of kongonis simply for the sake of protection。 Wildebeeste are much given to this。
The kongoni progresses by a series of long high bounds。 While in midair he half tucks up his feet； which gives him the appearance of an automatic toy。 This gait looks deliberate； but is really quite fast； as the mounted sportsman discovers when he enters upon a vain pursuit。 If the horse is an especially good one； so that the kongoni feels himself a trifle closely pressed； the latter stops bouncing and runs。 Then he simply fades away into the distance。
These beasts are also given to chasing each other all over the landscape。 When a gentleman kongoni conceives a dislike for another gentleman kongoni； he makes no concealment of his emotions； but marches up and prods him in the ribs。 The ensuing battle is usually fought out very stubbornly with much feinting； parrying； clashing of the lyre…shaped horns； and a good deal of crafty circling for a favourable opening。 As far as I was ever able to see not much real damage is inflicted； though I could well imagine that only skilful fence prevented unpleasant punctures in soft spots。 After a time one or the other feels himself weakening。 He dashes strongly in； wheels while his antagonist is braced； and makes off。 The enemy pursues。 Then； apparently； the chase is on for the rest of the day。 The victor is not content merely to drive his rival out of the country； he wants to catch him。 On that object he is very intent； about as intent as the other fellow is of getting away。 I have seen two such beasts almost run over a dozen men who were making no effort to keep out of sight。 Long after honour is satisfied； indeed； as it seems to me； long after the dictates of common decency would call a halt that persistent and single…minded pursuer bounds solemnly and conscientiously along in the wake of his disgusted rival。
These and the zebra and wildebeeste were at Juja the most conspicuous game animals。 If they could not for the moment be seen from the veranda of the house itself； a short walk to the gate was sufficient to reveal many hundreds。 Among them fed herds of the smaller Thompson's gazelle； or 〃Tommies。〃 So small were they that only their heads could be seen above the tall grass as they ran。
To me there was never…ending fascination in walking out over those sloppy plains in search of adventure； and in the pleasure of watching the beasts。 Scarcely less fascination haunted a stroll down the river canyons or along the tops of the bluffs above them。 Here the country was broken into rocky escarpments in which were caves； was clothed with low and scattered brush； or was wooded in the bottom lands。 Naturally an entirely different set of animals dwelt here； and in addition one was often treated to the romance of surprise。 Herds of impalla haunted these edges； graceful creatures； trim and pretty with wide horns and beautiful glowing red coats。 Sometimes they would venture out on the open plains； in a very compact band； ready to break back for cover at the slightest alarm； but generally fed inside the fringe of bushes。 Once from the bluff above I saw a beautiful herd of over a hundred pacing decorously along the river bottom below me； single file； the oldest buck at the head； and the miscellaneous small buck bringing up the rear after the does。 I shouted at them。 Immediately the solemn procession broke。 They began to leap； springing straight up into the air as though from a released spring； or diving forward and upward in long graceful bounds like dolphins at sea。 These leaps were incredible。 Several even jumped quite over the backs of others； and all without a semblance of effort。
Along the fringe of the river； too； dwelt the lordly waterbuck； magnificent and proud as the stags of Landseer； and the tiny steinbuck and duiker； no bigger than jack…rabbits； but perfect little deer for all that。 The incredibly plebeian wart…hog rooted about； and down in the bottom lands were leopards。 I knocked one off a rock one day。 In the river itself dwelt hippopotamuses and crocodiles。 One of the latter dragged under a yearling calf just below the house itself； and while we were there。 Besides these were of course such affairs as hyenas and jackals； and great numbers of small game： hares； ducks； three kinds of grouse； guinea fowl； pigeons； quail； and jack snipe； not to speak of a variety of plover。
In the drier extents of dry grass atop the bluffs the dance birds were especially numerous； each with his dance ring nicely trodden out； each leaping and falling rhythmically for hours at a time。 Toward sunset great flights of sand grouse swarmed across the yellowing sky from some distant feeding ground。
Near Juja I had one of the three experiences that especially impressed on my mind the abundance of African big game。 I had stalked and wounded a wildebeeste across the N'derogo River； and had followed him a mile or so afoot； hoping to be able to put in a finishing shot。 As sometimes happens the animal rather gained strength as time went on； so I signalled for my horse； mounted； and started out to run him down。 After a quarter mile we began to pick up the game herds。 Those directly in our course ran straight away； other herds on either side； seeing them running； came across in a slant to join them。 Inside of a half mile I was driving before me literally thousands of head of game of several varieties。 The dust rose in a choking cloud that fairly obscured the landscape； and the drumming of the hooves was like the stampeding of cattle。 It was a wonderful sight。
On the plains of Juja； also； I had my one real African Adventure； when； as in the Sunday Supplements； I Stared Death in the Face…also everlasting disgrace and much derision。 We were just returning to the farm after an afternoon's walk； and as we approached I began to look around for much needed meat。 A herd of zebra stood in sight； so leaving Memba Sasa I began to stalk them。 My usual weapon for this sort of thing was the Springfield； for which I carried extra cartridges in my
